Tobacco-drier.



W. H. YOUNG.

TOBACCO DRIER.

APPLICATION HLED MAR. I3, 1915.

Patented Apr. 10,1917;

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

0 8 04 I d Lib I u I I. l 1 ll. 2 l l I H 1 t I; MI Z q H aw m e 0 WITNESSES:

g BY ATTORNEYS H. YOUNG.

TOBACCO DRIER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 13. 1915.

Patented Apr. 10, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W/ T/VE SSE S:

Ill/l/E/VTOH Wayne H. Young BY A 4 A TTOR/VEVS WAYNE H. YOUNG, LOWELL, MICHIGAN.

TOBACCO-DRIER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 111, 191% Application filed Mai-ch13, 1915. serial No. 1 1,185.

To all whom it may concern:

. Be it known that I, WAYNE I-I. YOUNG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lowell, in the county of Kent and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tobacco-Briers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in tobacco driers.

The main object of this invention is to rovide an improved tobacco drier which is simple and eflicient and which is so constructed as to aiford a special safeguard against the danger of fire. I

Further objects, and ob'ects relating to details and economies of construction and operation will definitely appear from the detailed description to follow.

I accomplish the objects of my invention by the devices and means described in the following specification. The invention is clearly defined and pointed out in the claims.

A structure constituting a preferred embodiment of my-invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, in which:

Figure I is a view in side elevation of a structure embodying my invention, a portion of the surrounding screen being broken away in order to show the heater within the same.

' a modified form of cover for the drier.

In the drawing, similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views, and the sectional views are taken looking in the direction of the little arrows at the ends of the section lines.

Considering the numbered parts of the drawing, the fuel tank 1 is supported on the standard 2, the fuel supply pipe 3 being connected with said tank 1 and provided with a valve tfor controlling the flow of fuel through saldpipe and a gage 4: whereby the rate of flow of fuel can be readily ascertained. The burner plate 8 is supported on the legs 8 and provided with an upstanding peripheral flange 9. Concentric with said flange 9, there is provided an annular flange 10 Within the confines of which the burner is disposed. An inner annular flange 11 1s provided, forming with the plate 8 a cup 11. The fuel supply pipe 3 passes upward through the burner plate 8 within said cup, 1ts upper end terminating on a l1ne wlth the top of the flange 11. Oil flows from the top of the pipe down into the cup 11 and filling the same, flows down into the-annular trough 1 1 surrounding the flange 11, which trough is formed by the annular flange 13 having portions 12 extending upwardly to the same height as the flanges 10 and 11. Air openings 15 are provided in the bottom plate between the flange 10 and the flange 13, flanges 15 being provided at the edges of said openings. The surplus oil is drained off by waste pipe 21.

The, cover plate 16 for the burner is supported on the flanges 10 and 12, being provided with a circular central opening 17 about equal in diameter to the ring 13. A deflector 18, is hinged at 19 to the cover plate 16 and provided with a leg 20 which supports the same so that it deflects the heated air to the sides and out into the drum 5 which is carried by the edge of the burner plate, as shown in Fig II.

An annular plate or disk 22, having a central opening therein in line with the drum 5, is secured at its inner edge to the upper edge of the drum 5. An inner cylindrical wall 22 extends vertically upward from the inner edge of said disk and an outer cylindrical Wall 6 extends vertically upward from the outer edge of said disk, as shown in Figs. II and III. A top plate 23' is provided resting on the upper edges of said vertical walls so that an annular flue is formed; An opening 2 1 is provided in the inner wall 22 and" a vertical partition wall 23 extends between the inner and outer walls, as shown in Fig. III. A pipe 7 is connected with said annular flue at a point near the partition wall23 and on the opposite side thereof from the opening 24. A

central opening 25 is provided in the top plate 23' and a removable cover 26 closes said opening. A cover 27 having its upper surface covered with a layer of asbestos 28 is supported by the legs 29 resting on the top plate 23'. A wire gauze screen 30 surrounds the drier and is carried by the edge of the cover 27. In Fig. VI, I have .shown a slightly modified structure in which the cover 27 is made in two pieces connected together by the hinges 31 so that one-half can be lifted to facilitate access to the burner.

From the description of the parts given above, the operation of the device should be very readily understood. The burner is preferably designed for use in connect on with hydrocarbon fuel, which is supphed from the tank 1 by the fuel supply pipe 3, the tank being supported on the standard 2 so that the fuel is fed by gravity. The flow of fuelcan be controlled by the valve 4 and the operator can ascertain the rate of flow by means of the gage 4". The fuel flows from the pipe 3, into the cup 11' and, filhng the same,,overflows into the trough 14 in which it is burned. The combustion of the fuel draws air upwardly through the air 1nlets 15 and through the space between the portions 12 of the ring 13 to the flame. By means of this construction; the air is evenly supplied to the flame so that a more perfect combustion is produced. Any excess oil which flows out upon .the burner plate may be drained off through the waste pipe 21. The heated air is deflected to the sides by the deflector 18 which, being hinged at 19, may be turned to one side so as to afford access to the burner. The cover plate 16 which carries this deflector may be removed when desired, thus exposing the burner plate. It will be seen that, due to this deflector and the cover plate, the flame is quite completely coyered. The heated air passes into the drum 5 and upwardly in the same and through the opening 24 into the annular flue, passing around the, same and out through the pipe 7. The cover 26 is removable so that the operator may get at the burner. It will be observed that the burner is completely inclosed within the drum. The cover of the device is supported by the legs 29 resting on the top plate 23', as shown in Fig. II. A wire gauze screen, completely surrounding the drier, iscarried by the cover and the top of the cover is provided. with a layer of asbestos 28 to prevent 'it from becoming overheated. This is of importance in view of the fact that tobacco during the process of drying is in a highly inflammable condition and during the later stages of the process, it is frequently as dry as tinder. Consequently, it is necessary to tak e precautions to avoid fire. My tobacco drier is constructed with this end in view and, as has been pointed out, the burner is protected by the cover plate and by the deflector and entirely inclosed within a heating drum and the whole heater inclosed by a wire gauze screen to prevent particles of dry tobacco or dust from lodging on the hot walls of the heater. The cover of the drier also has an upper layer of asbestos so that any particles of dust or tobacco lodging on the cover will not lodge on an overheated surface and be likely to ignite. The burner structure, which I have here shown, is such that a hot and even flame is afforded since air is admitted to all parts of the flame in sufiicient quantities and fuel is regularly supplied to the flame from the cup 11'.

I am aware that the particular embodiments of my invention which I have here shown are'susceptible of considerable modification without departing from the spirit of my invention and, hence, I do not wish to be restricted to the same. However, I have found this form to be preferred and, therefore, I desire to claim the same specifically, as well as broadly, as indicated by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a structure of the class described, the combination of aburner, a' heating drum surrounding said burner, an annular flue surrounding the upper part of said drum and communicating therewith, a cover supported. upon the top of said flue and having itsupper surface provided with a layer of heat insulating material, and a wire gauze screen surrounding said flue and drum and carried by said cover.

2. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a burner, a heating drum surrounding said burner, an annular flue surrounding the upper part of said drum and communicating therewith, and a cover supported upon the top of said flue and havmg its upper surface provided with a layer of heat insulating material.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presence nesses.

WAYNE H. YOUNG. [n a] Witnesses:

LILLIAN Trsnann, I. C. Smuss.

of two wit- 

